All the Rams had to do to earn home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs was beat the Lions—the worst team in the NFL. Easier said than done. After building a 20-10 lead at half time, St. Louis saw that lead evaporate in the third quarter. The Lions scored 17 points in the third, thanks to a touchdown two touchdown passes from Joey Harrington and a Jason Hanson field goal. Former Rams wide out Az-Zahir Hakim caught one of those touchdowns. Hanson kicked another field goal for the final scored with 31 seconds to go in the game. Marc Bulger struggled, going 18-31 for 170 yards. He was pulled in the fourth quarter after taking a hit from former Missouri Tiger Otis Smith and suffering a bruised forearm. Kurt Warner was inserted and got his first snap since week one—he completed four of eleven passes. Marshall Faulk had a slow day, carrying the ball 12 times for 35 yards and a touchdown. The Rams are now the number-two seed in the NFC playoffs and will have a first-round bye and will host the highest seed remaining in round two.
